The SWAP team

SWAP

We are a results-oriented, multidisciplinary team of scientists. Our respective backgrounds allow us:

  • to understand the issues at hand
  • to easily interact with colleagues
  • to take on copy-editing when required
  • to find bugs or inconsistencies in submitted material or data
  • to make relevant suggestions or adaptations in terms of content, data presentation/management, user interfaces, etc.

Team members

Samuli Kauranne

Contact information

Email address:
samuli.kauranne@naturalsciences.be
Phone number:
+32 (0)2 773 21 36
Fax number:
+32 (0)2 770 69 72
Mailing address:
Samuli Kauranne
OD Nature
Gulledelle, 100
B-1200 Brussels
Belgium

Academic training

2007
M. Sc. Mathematics, University of Helsinki, Finland
2010
Postgraduate in Educational policy management, National Board of Education, Finland

About

I'm a mathematician and minored in general physics. I've also followed a total of one year worth graduate and undergraduate level courses in Computer Science outside any formal curriculum on basis of professional needs.

Prior to moving to Belgium, I worked 4 years part-time as a web developer in a Web consultant agency and 5 years full-time as a professor of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science in upper secondary academic education in Finland, serving one year as the Deputy Principal of a regional school. I have also gathered some international experience in a Pan-European student movement.

At OD Nature I currently divide my time between SWAP and the Belgian Marine Data Centre. At SWAP I am responsible for developing the ODiN Web framework, as well as designing and developing back-end structures and databases for various projects.

Work interests

  • Object-oriented programming
  • Software architecture: Modular, understandable and re-usable
  • Database design
  • Quality Control

Fabrice Ovidio

Contact information

Email address:
fabrice.ovidio@naturalsciences.be
Phone number:
+32 (0)2 773 21 40
Fax number:
+32 (0)2 770 69 72
Mailing address:
Fabrice Ovidio
OD Nature
Gulledelle, 100
B-1200 Brussels
Belgium

Academic training

1992
M. Sc. Oceanology, University of Liège, Belgium
1991
M. Sc. Physics, University of Liège, Belgium

Work interests

  • Making scientific research, data and results available to both the general public and the scientific community
  • Clean, no-nonsense design
  • Project management (a.o. AGILE)
  • Application planning
  • User interfaces

About

I'm a physical oceanographer turned web developer. I lead the conception, planning, development and maintenance of OD Nature's scientific web sites and applications platform, which encompasses a large array of scientific disciplines: operational oceanograpĥy, mathematical modelling, remote sensing, oil spill forecasting, conservation biology, biodiversity, etc.

In the past, I worked on numerous scientific research projects on various topics such as:

  • air-sea interface exchanges
  • mathematical model validation
  • wave modelling
  • data assimilation
  • optical remote sensing

I now focus on providing scientific development for my OD Nature colleagues.

Projects and work history

2014
Scientific web sites and applications Team Leader, OD Nature
2001–2013
Webmaster / Web developer, MUMM (now OD Nature)
2001
CHRIS project (Coastal waters chlorophyll mapping by satellite-based imaging spectrometry), MUMM
ESA/PRODEX project
1999–2001
MULTICOLOR II project (Region-specific optical remote sensing for coastal zone applications)
Improvement of bio-optical algorithms used in MUMM's ocean-colour models, calibration via in situ measurements of optical properties and water quality parameters, development of a robust image processing chain, atmospheric correction.
1997–1999
MULTICOLOR project, MUMM
Development of chlorophyll and SPM retrieval algorithms for use with ocean colour data (NOAA-AVHRR, SeaStar SeaWiFS)
1996
OMNECS project (Operational modelling of the North West European Continental Shelf), MUMM
Operational implementation of UKMO wind forecasting data and validation using in situ data.
1993–1995
Validation and improvement of the wave forecasting model MU-WAVE using ERS-1 satellite data, MUMM (European Space Agency Pilot Project PP2-B9)
Validation of the MU-WAVE operational wave forecasting model using ERS-1 altimeter and diffusometer data; implementation of a data assimilation procedure.
1992
Global Change project, MUMM
Parameterisation of air-sea exchanges within a global climate model.